Tottenham great Ralph Coates dies following a stroke at the age of 64

17 Dec 2010 22:57:50

Ralph Coates , the former Burnley, Tottenham and England winger, was a modest man who best expressed himself on the field of play.
A son of Hetton-le-Hole near Sunderland, he was taught the game by two fine former Burnley managers in Harry Potts and Jimmy Adamson.
It was at Turf Moor that Coates' distinguished career blossomed and where his death on Friday, at the age of 64 following a stroke, will be most keenly felt.
Legends all: Ralph Coates (2nd right) celebrates Tottenham's UEFA Cup Final defeat of Wolves in 1972 along with (from left) Mike England, Alan Gilzean and Joe Kinnear with Martin Chivers at the back
Coates was quickly promoted to the Burnley first team, initially asa forward but ultimately as a left winger, where his pace and staminamade him a handful. There was more than a hint of a young BobbyCharlton about his galloping style and it earned him a place in theEngland Under 23 side before a call-up came from Alf Ramsey.
He was part of the pre-1970 World Cup tour to South America, but hefailed to make the final squad and ultimately won only four caps.
Bill Nicholson had followed hisfortunes and, when Burnley were relegated in 1971, made a move to take him to Tottenham.
Coates's £190,000 transfer was completed in a Stoke hotel with theplayer telling his new manager: 'No player is worth that amount ofmoney.'
Coates stayed with Spurs until 1978, scoring the winning goal at Wembley as theylifted the 1973 League Cup, and finished his playing career with Leyton Orient.
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